Summer Camp

As summer began here in Peru, I asked a few of the young people I know, “What are you going to do now that school is out?” Expecting an excited response, I instead saw confused or blank expressions, reminding me that for many of the children here in Huánuco, there is nothing special about summer.

There are no pool parties or soccer camps, no long-awaited family vacations. For some, the end of the school year is devastating, as it means returning to a stressful and oftentimes violent home life.

However, if you ask the young women and children that visit our office, “What are you doing this summer?” most likely, their faces will light up with anticipation for the annual summer camp for the TAMAR Collective, the support group for young survivors of sexual abuse.

Each summer in February, the TAMAR Collective spends a weeklong over-night camp at the Granja, the ecological farm owned by Paz y Esperanza. With one week for teenagers, some of whom are mothers, and another week for children, los campamentos offer these young survivors something few Peruvian children experience… a summer vacation filled with fun games, good food, spiritual development and therapy sessions with a team of compassionate psychologists.

The Granja property is situated in a river valley protected on both sides by a vertical wall of mountains. Beyond the river bank are towering corn fields, leading to a more shallow meadow of alfalfa, which finally meets a sprawling vegetable garden, avocado trees and towering rose bushes that create an isolated and utterly peaceful environment… that is until twenty-five teenagers take over for four days.

A Remarkable Group

Some loud and confident, others timid, the teenagers in the first week were a diverse group. One young lady stood apart from the others in her silence and also her dress, the traditional dark pleated skirt and knit sweater worn in the mountain communities outside of Huánuco. No one knew it was her birthday on Wednesday during the camp. I wonder if she would’ve delighted in the attention had we prepared a celebration for her, or the opposite, felt terrified by the fuss, preferring to hide in the shadows.

Three of the ladies had babies, however it was difficult to decipher at times who was the mother, as everyone seemed to take turns holding, calming and caring for the little ones. This provided relief to the young mothers, allowing them to run and play without a bundle tied to their back or a mouth to feed. These three mothers are startlingly mature, extremely responsible and have overcome trauma in a way that I cannot quite comprehend.

I observed an intelligent resourcefulness among the young people. After an afternoon spent in a muddy pool, wet clothing was hung on tree branches outside of the windows of the sleeping quarters. During our last evening as we prepared for the traditional fogata, or bonfire, two ladies taught me how to build a fire with bamboo branches and a roll of toilet paper.

The teenagers were encouraged to work collaboratively, which they achieved during a challenging team building activity one afternoon. In an overgrown grassy field with roaming cows, we played a game called “Cross the River,” which I recalled from my fifth grade gym class. Three teams were asked to cross the field without touching the ground, using a pile of equipment including an old mattress, rock, hula hoop, wooden chair, and potato sack. Oh, and one of the team members was blindfolded.

Each group experienced the disappointment of returning back to the starting point, after a foot or hand touched the ground. But during a reflection period, we discussed that sometimes in life you just have to start from scratch and rebuild. We all encounter obstacles, and fortunately we never have to “cross the river” alone.

Spiritual Development

Much of our time was spent either in the comedor, the outdoor eating pavilion, or Ichayhuasi, a Quechan term meaning “house of learning” situated next to the cow pen. These two gathering places facilitated a sense of togetherness and friendship that will hopefully uplift and sustain each participant beyond the short time spent at the Granja.

Each morning after breakfast, we met in Ichayhuasi to sing songs, tally up the points that each team earned during the previous day’s games and field competitions, and later to follow a Bible study focusing on the personal change.

The Bible study theme Rumbo al Cambio (Heading Toward Change) included discussions on how to be your true, authentic self, and how to relinquish stubborn self-sufficiency and trust in G-d.

During one of the many spontaneous moments I experienced during the camp, I suddenly found myself standing in front of twenty-five curious faces as I shared my own story of how I arrived in Peru. In an effort to listen to G-d’s intentions for my life, I stepped outside of my structure, comfort and yes, stubborn self-sufficiency, in order to place more trust in G-d.

As I came to know these young people, they reminded me that faith doesn’t need to be kept a secret, it is meant to be shared. For many, their faith is more pure and robust than I’ve ever experienced.

Various participants prayed out loud with conviction, recited with ease the Bible verses we learned in the morning and afternoon studies, and sang alabanzas or praise songs while waiting for lunch or settling down for the night. Their knowledge and understanding of Christianity is real and not forced, open and giving and not ashamed or embarrassed.

Paper Cranes and Poetry

It was such a joy to share some of my own ideas and creativity with the group, encouraged by the other psychologists that I had something valuable to share.

One evening I facilitated a workshop on relaxation on the porch outside our sleeping house. I was nervous that the hyper group would think the activity was silly and unimportant. However, I was surprised by their receptiveness and maturity, as we gave back massages in pairs and learned that tired feet need attention too.

Fortunately the group was undisturbed by the giant bearded moths that plastered themselves to the porch walls and the symphony of evening insects that could be heard just beyond the deck. And I considered the activity a success when, after a moment of silence, I found one of the most giggly girls fast asleep on one of the couch cushions.

During the following afternoon I introduced the group to origami, a craft I used to love and have since rediscovered in this new context. It’s difficult to teach origami to three tables of teenagers, with some quickly achieving each fold while others need individual attention. I would hear my name being called in five directions, and somehow remained calm and patient during the entire process.

A very significant moment for me was sitting next to one of the girls, guiding her hands and seeing her slowly yet surely make a paper crane, her smile widening after accomplishing each step of the process.

I continually looked over at one of the young men in the group, a sixteen year-old who seemed to be unamused by most of the activities. However, I observed him fully invested in the project, completing four cranes and moving unto the final task of making a wind mobile with popsicle sticks and string.

Below is a poem I came upon a few days before the camp, one of those coincidences that is no coincidence at all. It found me while I was re-reading some of my orientation materials and reinforces the process of rehabilitation that these young people are going through.

Please pray for them.

Origami Emotion - by Elizabeth Barrette

Hope is
Folding paper cranes
Even when you hands get cramped
And your eyes tired,
Working past blisters and paper cuts,
Simply because something in you
Insists on
Opening its wings.